2. Has the brand (company) disclosed the annual absolute carbon footprint of its 'own operations' (Scope 1 & 2) and has the brand already reduced or compensated 10% of these emissions in the last 5 years?

VAUDE has reduced its climate footprint of own operations from 3704 tons of CO2e in 2011 to 2980 tons of CO2e in 2014. This represents a decrease of around 19,6% (see link, page 1-6).

3. Is at least 50% of the electricity used by the brand (company) generated from renewable resources, such as wind or solar energy?

VAUDE reports for 2014 a 100% renewable energy use on total electricity consumption. This was mainly generated by photovoltaic systems on VAUDE's company roofs (around 97%). Energy for the remaining electricity need is purchased by a green electricity provider, but the source of supply is not communicated.

7. Is there a policy for the brand (company) to eliminate all hazardous chemicals from the whole lifecycle and all production procedures to make the clothes and footwear?

VAUDE's implements several measures to eliminate hazardous chemicals from its production. Also its clothing is for instance bluesign® certified, which means that high standards are maintained for suitable chemical use and water policies during production. This certification is applicable to the majority of VAUDE's collection.

VAUDE reports to become fully PFC-free across the entire collection no later than 2020. But, whether at least one other chemical group, such as Phthalates or APEOs, can be considered as fully eliminated from its entire production remains unclear.

10. Does the brand (company) have clear objectives to minimize the environmental impact of its shipping packaging and carrier bags, by reducing, re-using, recycling and responsible sourcing of packaging materials, and does the brand annually report on these results?

VAUDE implements several measures to minimize the environmental impact of its sales packaging, such as using FSC certified cardboard. Also, tangible aggregate results regarding its sales packaging materials footprint are made public. In 2014 around 56 tons of sales packaging materials were put into circulation.

11. Does the brand (company) have clear objectives to minimize waste, by reducing, re-using and recycling, and does the brand annually report the results?

VAUDE implements several measures to minimize the environmental impact of its generated waste and aims to reduce its waste material footprint. Also, aggregate results regarding its residual waste materials footprint for 2014, and previous year, are made public.

12. Does the brand (company) encourage the return or re-use of garments?

In 1994 the VAUDE 'Ecolog Recycling Network' was established for the collection and recycling of VAUDE products, but is currently not accepting products for recycling. But, Vaude offers its customers the opportunity to make use of its repair service.

Questions about Labour Conditions/ Fair Trade

8 out of 13

1. Does the brand (company) have a supplier Code of Conduct (CoC) which includes the following standards: No forced or slave labor, no child labor, no discrimination of any kind and a safe and hygienic workplace?

VAUDE is a member of the Fair Wear Foundation (FWF). For Labour Standards FWF, see link for questions 2&3 below. In the Labour Standards all these standards are mentioned.

2. Does this CoC include at least two of the following workers rights: 1. to have a formally registered employment relationship 2. to have a maximum working week of 48 hours with voluntary and paid overtime of 12 hours maximum 3. to have a sufficient living wage?

3. Does this Code of Conduct include the right for workers to form and join trade unions and bargain collectively; and in those situations where these rights are restricted under law, the right to facilitate parallel means of independent and free association and bargaining?

In FWF Labour Standards: This right is mentioned, with reference to parallel means for the situation of law restrictions.

5. Is the brand (company) a member of a collective initiative that aims to improve labor conditions, or does the brand (company) purchase its supplies from accredited factories with improved labor conditions?

7. Is there a policy for the brand (company) for capacity building at the apparel manufacturers for improved labour practices?

VAUDE implements policy measures to improve labour practices at its apparel manufacturers, namely analysis of cost and time of production per style to ensure sufficient time for completing orders without resorting to overtime. However, tangible results, such as wages increased or working hours decreased, are not reported yet (see link, pages 8 –12).

8. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy? Is at least 90% of the brands production volume from apparel manufacturers monitored for labour conditions?

VAUDE has a publicly available annual audit report by Fair Wear Foundation (FWF). By December 2014 96% of VAUDE's entire production was under monitoring on apparel manufacturer level (see link, page 15).

11. Does the brand (company) implement a policy to establish the payment of living wages at its apparel manufacturers? Are at least first living wage payments realised?

VAUDE implements policy measures to achieve the payment of living wages at its apparel manufacturers and has already achieved good intermediate results. But, none of the 16 audits conducted in 2014 showed evidence of living wages paid yet (see link, page 12).

12. Does the brand (company) annually report on the results of its labor conditions policy for the fabric manufacturing phases, including a reasonable overview of the number and region of workplaces covered by the policy in relation to the total production volume?

VAUDE does not publicly report clear results of its policy measures to improve labor conditions at its fabric manufacturers.